ICPF Features (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
ICPF: Have you been able to serve as a mentor in your current role or throughout your career? KE: Yes, there’s actually a young woman, Lauren, who works in the design department (at Jamestown Contain- er). I got her set up in the Emerging Leaders Program with AICC and she’s part of that group now. She has a packag- ing degree from RIT, but she really wanted more, and I’ve been able to take her under my wing. ICPF: What piece of advice would you give to current job seekers? KE: Be a sponge and learn from the ground up. Be a mas- ter in your field. You’ve got to put the time in and there is a lot of grinding. When I got into this industry and started calling in sales, I was a young 20-something year old call- ing on predominantly males in the purchasing community and a lot of them were probably the age of my father. I needed to know my field and I needed to know my product. I had a lot of great customers that I still talk to today that became like mentors to me and really took me under their wing and taught me a lot (about the industry). So, really, just be a sponge. The ICPF is dedicated to growing the labor force of the corrugated packaging industry now and into the future. Co-sponsored by AICC, The Independent Packaging As- sociation, and the Fibre Box Association (FBA), ICPF part- ners with students, universities and industry companies to bring a talented workforce of motivated, qualified gradu- ates to the corrugated packaging industry.
ICPF: Can you speak a little bit about the importance of young women considering a career in the manufacturing field, including corrugated packaging? KE: There’s definitely an opportunity for you to grow as a person. You need to be devoted and dedicated to your discipline, but you can really find a fulfilling career here. I’ll be honest with you, when I got out of college everyone was going into pharmaceutical sales or the more glamor- ous sales, and people would say, ‘Who buys a box?’ And I would say, ‘Stop and look at everything on your body right now — everything on your body was probably in a box at some point.’ I love that part about the industry and learning all of the other types of manufacturing that’s out there. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity without being in sales and being on other people’s manufacturing floors. It’s pret- ty cool to see the businesses that have flourished here in my region. ICPF: What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job? KE: The people. I try to have a presence on the floor ev- ery day, to stop and talk to people. A big focus for me is knowing everyone’s name on the floor and we have over 160 employees here. I always want to have an open door; I want people to come and talk to me, to feel comfortable with me and be happy. I want them to want to come to work.
16 April 15, 2024
www.boardconvertingnews.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator